Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-11-19
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON. Noy.


WASHINGTON, Nov. Is, 1887.
One of the most notable characters
that can be seen nearly every day
upon the beautiful drive to the Sol
diers' Home, is the historian Ban
croft. He is nearly ninety years Of
age, but can ride his horse as grace
fully as dashing Brigadier. Every
day he devotes certain hours to Ia
Dor on his exhausting history OF the
United States, and then mounts his
horse and with his valet IA few rods
in the rear, goes flying into the
country for recreation. There is some
thing remarkable in his personal ap
pearanee. Tall and straight, long
white hair hanging to his shoulders,
thin face with full beard, and head
covered with an ordinary cloth cap
with an unusually large vizor. All
take delight III doing him honor, and
point With pride to the great literary
achievements Of the grand old
American.
/ never knew until the other day
how they tested concrete foundation,
and was greatly interested in the
experiment I witnessed at the new
Congressional Library site. You
know that is to be an immense
structure, and must have a good
foundation. They will use there
over 10000 barrels of cement. The
ground on which the concrete is LAID
is required to stand pressure OF
two and a half tons to the square
foot. Now in making these tests the
process is this: Four short iron pill
lars are placed on the ground abont
four feet apart. These are exactly
one foot square at the bottom, and
resting Oh these are two iron rods
about d foot in height, on which is a
fat car loaded with thirty tons of pig
lead, and this weight being equally
divided between the four square foot
covered by the iron pillars, solves
the problem. Everything used in
this building will be subjected to the
severest test and when compile
ted will be the finest structure on
this continent, if not in the whole
world. III aFE
Several weeks ago lalluded to the
bitter feeling existing in the Interior
Department regarding Land Com.
missioner Sparks, and predicted his
resignation or dismissal. The quar-
rel has reached the eliminating
point, and Secretary Lamar says in
d long letter that either himself or
Sparks must 60 1t will be Sparks.
The Post, the Administration organ
here, says: ale is probably the
most unpopular official i'll the Gov
eminent, a title which he has earn
ed by strict attention to the bust.
ness of making himself unpopular"
which isjust what the Republicans
have claimed. His dismissal will re
.jOice thousands of honest land set
tiers of the great West, who have
been most shamefuly outraged By
his unjust decisions and unwise in
reference. Let Sparks 60 back to
the shades, he never should have
been dug mp.
Congress sometimes makes the
most egregious blunders. Last win
ter they passed "an act to restrict
the ownership of real estate in the
territories to American citizens,'
and have just discovered that in the
body of the act the District of Col
umbia is also included. This will
preclude even foreign legations
from owning more real estate in
Washington, which certainly was
never intended unless by the crafty
politician who drew the bill. Several
Congressman have been interviewed,
who express their entire ignorance
of such legislation until shown the
act, which of course will be speedily
amended. But then it shows how
careless even our law makers are.
The Department Of Agriculture
has gathered some very instructive
and suggestive statistics. There
was planted this year 100000
acres of corn, which gave an average
yield of twenty bushels to the acre.
The potato crop averages fifty-four
bushels to the acre, and the yield
aggregates 134,000,000 bushels, 80
100000 less than last year. Other
figures are being tabulated at the
Department, and will be itemized in
SuhSeouant letters tr.
All concode that the late elections
settle beyond question the re-nomi-
nation of President Cleveland, but
how it will affect the second Oh the
ticket is not quite so clear. Gen.
Blacks boom has pretty much sub
sided. That of Gen. Villas is looking
up a little. Southern men say they
do not ask for or want it, and are
willing it should go to the West,
but want 10 soldier. An Indiana
civilian stands the best chance, and
the one most likely to carry that
state will win the prize.